One candidate in, one out for Assembly seat vacated by Brooks

By Conor Shine

Published Friday, April 12, 2013 | 11:15 a.m.

Updated Friday, April 12, 2013 | 11:26 a.m.

The slate of candidates up for consideration to replace Steven Brooks in Assembly District 17 is changing, with one applicant being added to the list and another dropping off.

A total of nine candidates were ruled eligible for the vacant seat after Tuesday’s 5 p.m. filing deadline.

Clark County commissioners are expected to interview applicants and vote on a replacement at their meeting next week.

Business owner Brandon Casutt’s application was turned in six minutes after Tuesday’s deadline and was initially ruled ineligible because he was not registered to vote at the address he provided.

To be considered for the seat, applicants are required to be registered Democrats and live in Assembly District 17, an area bounded approximately by Lamb Boulevard on the east, Clayton Street on the west and Craig Road on the south, stretching north past the 215 Beltway.

After Casutt disputed the ruling and submitted a change of address form to the election department, county staff ruled him eligible for the seat, adding him to the pool of candidates from which commissioners can choose.

On Friday, another candidate, Fred Young, withdrew his application to replace Brooks in a letter to the county.

Young, who served on local government boards while living in Illinois, said in the letter he applied for the seat because he wanted to make sure residents of the district had a qualified representative.

“There are some excellent candidates; unfortunately I do not feel I have enough local influence to be appointed to this position,” Young wrote. “I have decided to withdraw my application so additional time can be dedicated to interviews and deliberations of the remaining candidates.”

After Friday’s changes, commissioners still will have nine candidates to consider when they meet at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Clark County Government Center.

Brooks was expelled from the Assembly earlier this year. In January, he was arrested on suspicion he threatened Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas. No charges have been filed in connection with that incident. A week later, Brooks was detained by police for a psychiatric evaluation after a domestic disturbance at a relative’s house involving a sword. Brooks was arrested a second time in February and charged with domestic battery and resisting a police officer. On the night of his expulsion, Brooks was arrested in California after arguing with a tow truck operator over services and leading police on a chase on Interstate 15. He remains in custody in San Bernardino County, Calif.